Oregon Governor Tina Kotek made headlines Monday with a stunning defense of Portland’s ongoing unrest, telling CBS News that the city is “safe,” its protests are “lawful,” and that federal agents — not demonstrators — are the ones escalating tensions. Her remarks come as Portland faces yet another wave of violent confrontations outside federal buildings and continued criticism over weak responses to criminal activity disguised as political expression.
Kotek, a Democrat, dismissed concerns over lawlessness in the city, framing the situation as largely under control by local authorities. “This set of demonstrations… are managed by local law enforcement, as they should be,” she said. “People have the right to lawfully protest, but if they cross the line, they are being held accountable.”
But that characterization stands in sharp contrast with on-the-ground reports — including statements from federal officials and business owners — who have described nightly vandalism, assaults, and targeted attacks on law enforcement and journalists, much of it taking place in front of the ICE facility and other federal properties.
Kotek’s central claim is that the “criminal activity in the last couple of days” is not coming from the protesters themselves, but from “counterprotesters having arguments and fights.” She accused federal agents of escalating the situation with their presence and called for them to “stand back” to de-escalate tensions.
This narrative — one that shifts blame from protesters to external agitators and federal authorities — mirrors previous Democratic messaging during periods of unrest. But critics argue that it minimizes the sustained disruptions that have plagued Portland for months, including property damage, arson, and violent clashes that local law enforcement has appeared increasingly reluctant or unable to contain.
To say the city is “safe,” as Kotek did, is to ignore the footage, reports, and testimonies from victims and federal personnel alike. ICE officials have confirmed over 100 consecutive nights of protest activity, much of it volatile, with local police often absent or instructed to stand down. Protesters have used projectiles, set fires, and harassed federal officers — but in Kotek’s version, the demonstrations are peaceful until “counterdemonstrators” arrive.
In a time when Americans are asking whether cities like Portland have surrendered the rule of law to street mobs and political theater, Governor Kotek’s comments offer clarity — but perhaps not the kind she intended. The message appears to be: everything is fine unless you disagree.
What’s unfolding in Portland is not merely a protest. It’s a long-term test of how far political leadership will go to avoid acknowledging breakdowns in public order — even as federal agents are forced to defend property and personnel without local support.
The governor may insist Portland is safe. But safety isn’t defined by press conferences — it’s defined by whether residents feel secure in their own city. Whether businesses can operate without fear. Whether journalists can report without being assaulted. Whether federal employees can walk into a building without being surrounded, shouted down, or worse.
